Methods and apparatus for providing chat data and video content between multiple viewers

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments of apparatus and/or methods are described for providing communication between multiple content viewers. First video data is captured of a first user located locally with respect to a presentation device and transmitted to a base station located remotely with respect to the presentation device. The base station transmits a composite signal that includes video content provided by a content source communicatively coupled the base station and further includes second video chat data captured of a second user located remotely with respect to the presentation device. The composite signal is responsively presented by the presentation device to the first user.

BACKGROUND

People often like to watch television programs and movies with friendsand family. A group of people may gather around a television toexperience their favorite television show, movie or sporting eventtogether. Watching television is a social experience, and people oftendiscuss topics related to the television programming. For example, whenwatching sports, people often like to discuss the team or the playersparticipating in the game. However, when people are remotely locatedwith respect to each other, it becomes difficult to maintain the socialexperience of watching television together.

Many people try to maintain the social experience of watching televisiontogether while they are apart by communicating over a distinctcommunication medium, such as a telephone. Seinfeld fans will rememberwhen Kramer's girlfriend moves across the city, and Kramer attempts towatch a television movie while talking on the phone with his girlfriend.However, this solution has several inadequacies. It is awkward to hold atelephone while watching programming having a lengthy duration, such asmovies and sporting events. Additionally, a viewer's telephone is tiedup during the conversation, and they may be unable to accept phone callsfrom other people during the duration of the conversation. Also, oneperson is not able to see the physical reactions of the otherparticipant in the conversation, which makes it difficult to fullyexperience the social interaction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The same number represents the same element or same type of element inall drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an entertainment system.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a content distribution system.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of functional components of the localset-top box of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a communication system.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a communication system.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of functional components of the basestation of FIGS. 4-5.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus for presenting videocontent and chat data to a user.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a process for providing videocommunication between users.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various embodiments described herein generally provide apparatus,systems and methods which facilitate the reception, processing, andoutputting of presentation content. More particularly, the apparatus,systems and methods described herein facilitate the transmission ofaudio and video chat data that may be presented on a presentation devicein association with other presentation content. In short, variousembodiments described herein provide apparatus, system and/or methodsfor providing communication between multiple viewers of presentationcontent at disparate locations.

In at least one embodiment, the presentation content to be received,processed, outputted and/or communicated may come in any form of a videostream. It is to be appreciated that the video stream may be supplied byany source, such as an over-the-air broadcast, a satellite or cabletelevision distribution system, a digital video disk (DVD) or otheroptical disk, digital video recorder (DVR), the internet or othercommunication networks and the like. In at least one embodiment, thevideo stream may comprise both video data and audio data.

In various embodiments described herein, the chat data of a first useris captured at a first presentation device and transmitted to a secondpresentation device for presentation to a second user. The chat data maybe captured in any format, including video data, audio data, image data,text data or any combination thereof. The chat data is then presented inassociation with the presentation content (e.g., broadcast videocontent) by the second presentation device.

In at least one embodiment, the chat data of the first user istransmitted from the first presentation device to the secondpresentation device via an intermediate base station. The base stationfurther receives chat data of the second user from the secondpresentation device and combines the second chat data with video contentfrom a communicatively coupled content source to form a compositesignal. In at least one embodiment, the content source is locatedlocally with respect to the second presentation device. The compositesignal is further transmitted to the first presentation device forpresentation to the first user. In at least one embodiment, the basestation may further combine the chat data of the first user and thevideo content into a second composite signal that is transmitted to thesecond presentation device for presentation to the second user. Thus,the base station may facilitate two users watching video content fromthe same content source while simultaneously participating in a videochat.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an entertainment system 100. Theentertainment system 100 presents content to a user 106. In at least oneembodiment, the content presented to the user 106 includes a videostream, such as a television program, movie or other recorded contentand the like. The entertainment system 100 includes a presentationdevice 102 and a content source 104. Each of these components isdiscussed in greater detail below.

The presentation device 102 is configured to receive content from one ormore content source(s) 104, and to present the received content to theuser 106. In at least one embodiment, the presentation device 102 is adisplay device configured to display content to the user 106. Thepresentation device 102 may receive a video stream in any format (e.g.,analog or digital format), and present the video stream to the user 106.In at least one embodiment, the presentation device 102 receives videocontent from the content source 104, and presents the video content in adisplay area of the presentation device 102. The presentation device 102further receives chat data, and presents the chat data from the contentsource 104 in association with the video content. The chat data may comein any format, including audio data, video data, image data, text dataor any combination thereof.

In at least one embodiment, the chat data includes audio data, and thepresentation device 102 simultaneously presents the audio data with thevideo content received from the content source 104. If the video contentincludes an audio component, then the audio component and the audio chatdata may be mixed together and presented through an audio output of thepresentation device 102. In at least one embodiment, the audio componentof the video content is muted during presentation of the audio chatdata.

In at least one embodiment, the chat data includes video data, and thepresentation device 102 simultaneously presents the video chat data withthe video content received from the content source 104. For example, thevideo chat data and the video content may be presented in apicture-in-picture (PIP) or split screen mode. Thus, the video chat datamay be presented in a first region of the display area of thepresentation device 102, and the video content may be presented in asecond region of the display area. In at least one embodiment, the videochat data and the video content both include associated audio componentsthat are mixed together and simultaneously presented through an audiooutput of the presentation device 102. It is to be appreciated that theuser 106 may video chat with multiple remote users simultaneously. Thus,the presentation device 102 may present multiple PIP windows, each PIPwindow displaying video chat data for one remote user.

The content source 104 may comprise any system or apparatus configuredto provide presentation data, such as a video stream, to thepresentation device 102. The content source 104 may be external orinternal to the presentation device 102. The presentation device 102 andthe content source 104 may be communicatively coupled through any typeof wired or wireless connection, communication network and the like.Exemplary content sources include television distribution systems (e.g.,over-the-air distribution systems, cable television distributionsystems, satellite television distribution systems and broadbanddistribution systems), set-top boxes, DVD players and other optical diskplayers, digital storage mediums (e.g., DVRs) and the internet.

In at least one embodiment, the content source 104 further provides chatdata to the presentation device 102. The originating source of the chatdata may be different than the originating source of the video content.Further, the chat data and the video content may be received by thecontent source 104 and/or the presentation device through differentcommunication paths. For example, the video content may be provided tothe content source 104 by a satellite television provider, whereas, thechat data may be provided to the content source 104 by a remotetelevision receiver (e.g., a remote set-top box) over an internetconnection or other type of data network.

The presentation device 102 may receive the video content and the chatdata in a single signal or through multiple signals. Further, thepresentation device 102 may receive the video content and the chat datathrough a single input or multiple inputs. For example, the contentsource 104 may comprise a set-top box that receives broadcast videocontent (e.g., a television program) and video chat data and combinesboth signals to output a single video signal provided to thepresentation device 102. In some embodiments, the presentation device102 may receive the video chat data and the video content throughmultiple inputs (e.g., on two different channels), and may present thevideo chat data and the video content in a PIP mode. Thus, through theoperation of the entertainment system 100, the user 106 is presentedwith chat data and other presentation content (e.g., broadcast videocontent) simultaneously. Entertainment system 100 may include otherelements or components not illustrated for the sake of brevity.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a content distribution system 200.The content distribution system 200 is configured to presentpresentation content and chat data to a user 106. More particularly, thecontent distribution system 200 facilitates a conversation between tworemotely located users 106 and 214 through the users' televisionreceivers. The content distribution system 200 includes a local set-topbox 202, a local display device 204, a transmission network 206, acontent provider 208, a remote set-top box 210 and a display device 212.Each of these components is discussed in greater detail below.

The display device 204 may comprise any type of device operable forreceiving and displaying analog and/or digital video signals. In atleast one embodiment, the display device 204 may be a television set orvideo display that contains an integrated television converter device(e.g., an internal cable-ready television tuner housed inside atelevision), or, alternatively, that is connected to an externaltelevision converter device for receiving and demodulating analog and/ordigital signals for presentation on the local display device 204 (e.g.,the local set-top box 202).

Using an integrated television converter device, the local displaydevice 204 may be operable to communicate directly with the transmissionnetwork 206. For example, the transmission network 206 may comprise anover-the-air distribution system (e.g., free television), and the localdisplay device 204 may receive television broadcast signals using aninternal or external antenna. The transmission network 206 may alsocomprise a cable television distribution system, and the local displaydevice 204 may comprise a cable ready television adapted to receive anddemodulate analog or digital cable television signals for presentationto the local user 106. A direct broadcast satellite or other type ofwired or wireless communication network may also be used solely or inconjunction with the foregoing. In at least one embodiment, the localdisplay device 204 may communicate with the transmission network 206through an intermediate television receiver device, such as the localset-top box 202 that receives and demodulates analog and/or digitalsignals for presentation on the display device 204 that the displaydevice 204 itself is unable to receive.

The local set-top box 202 is communicatively coupled to the localdisplay device 204 through any type of wired or wireless connection.Exemplary wired connections include coax, fiber, composite video andHigh-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). Exemplary wirelessconnections include WiFi and Bluetooth. In at least one embodiment, thelocal set-top box 202 is embodied in a television converter device(e.g., a satellite television receiver). The local set-top box 202 mayalso be incorporated into the local display device 204.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the local set-top box 202 is coupled to acontent provider 208 (e.g., a satellite television provider) through thetransmission network 206. Thus, the local set-top box 202 receives atelevision signal (e.g., a broadcast) or other data signal (e.g.,digital video data or other data formatted into a video stream) from thetransmission network 206, and outputs television programs and othercontent provided by the content provider 208 to the local display device204. In at least one embodiment, the local set-top box 202 includesdigital video recorder (DVR) functionality that captures and recordsvideo content onto a storage medium for subsequent presentation to thelocal user 106. It is to be appreciated that the local set-top box 202may capture and record video streams from non-broadcast devices, such asvideo recorders, DVD players, personal computers, the internet or otherstorage devices (e.g., universal serial bus (USB) flash drives).

The local set-top box 202 may include a remote control or other inputdevice (not shown) that the local user 106 may utilize for remotelyoperating the set-top box 202 and/or the local display device 204. Morespecifically, a remote control may be operable for controlling thepresentation of video and/or other data presented by the local set-topbox 202 on the local display device 204. In at least one embodiment, theremote control includes a microphone for capturing audio chat data fromthe local user 106. In some embodiments, the local set-top box 202 mayinclude a video camera that is internal to the local set-top box 202 orcommunicatively coupled to the local set-top box 202 to capture videoand/or audio chat data from the local user 106.

The chat data is transmitted by the local set-top box 202 to a remoteset-top box 210 located remotely with respect to the local set-top box202. For example, the local set-top box 202 may be located in adifferent building, city or even country than the remote set-top box210. However, it is to be appreciated that the relative locations of thelocal set-top box 202 and the remote set-top box 210 may besignificantly closer. For example, the local set-top box 202 and theremote set-top box 210 may be located in different rooms of the samebuilding.

The remote set-top box 210 may be similar in configuration andfunctionality to the local set-top box 202, and is communicativelycoupled to a remote display device 212. The remote set-top box 210 iscommunicatively coupled to the local set-top box 202 through thetransmission network 206. In at least one embodiment, the local set-topbox 202 and the remote set-top box 210 communicate over the samecommunication path as each receives a broadcast television signal. Forexample, the local set-top box 202 and the remote set-top box 210 mayreceive both broadcast video content and chat data over a broadbandconnection. In other embodiments, the transmission network 206 mayinclude multiple communication paths for providing video content andchat data to the local set-top box 202 and the remote set-top box 210.For example, the local set-top box 202 and the remote set-top box 210may receive video content from the content provider 208 over a satellitetelevision distribution network, and may communicate with each otherthrough a broadband connection. In some embodiments, the local set-topbox 202 and the remote set-top box 210 may receive video content overdisparate communication paths. For example, the local set-top box 202may receive video content over a satellite television distributionnetwork, and the remote set-top box 210 may receive video content over acable television distribution network.

The remote set-top box 210 receives chat data from the local set-top box202, and outputs the chat data for presentation to the remote user 214,on the remote display device 212, in association with the presentationcontent received from the content provider 208. For example, the chatdata may include video data that is presented by the remote displaydevice 212 simultaneously with video content of a football game in a PIPmode. Likewise, the remote set-top box 210 captures chat data of theremote user 214, and transmits the chat data to the local set-top box202 for presentation to the local user 106.

In at least one embodiment, the local set-top box 202 records the chatdata received from the remote-set top box 210 for subsequentpresentation to the local user 106. For example, while watching thefootball game with a PIP video chat display, the local user 106 mayperform trick play operations on the video chat data (e.g., rewind, fastforward or pause the video chat data). In some embodiments, the localuser 106 may desire to subsequently experience the chat data at a latertime without experiencing the original video content that correspondswith the chat data. For example, the local user 106 may desire to seetheir friend's reaction to a touchdown in the football game several dayslater.

In some embodiments, the local set-top box 202 records audio or videodata of the local user 106 for subsequent presentation to the local user106. In other words, as the local set-top box 202 captures and transmitsaudio and/or video chat data of the local user 106 to the remote set-topbox 210, the local set-top box 202 may record the audio and/or videochat data for later viewing.

In at least one embodiment, the local set-top box 202 may be configuredto transmit portions of the audio and/or video chat data to third partyrecipients through a third party presentation device 216. For example,the local user 106 may select a portion of the chat data featuring theremote user 214 and transmit the selected portion to the third partypresentation device 216. Likewise, if the local set-top box 202 capturesaudio and/or video chat data of the local user 106, then the local user106 may select portions of the chat data for transmission to a thirdparty recipient. The third party presentation device 216 comprises anytype of device capable of receiving and presenting content to a user,such as another set-top box, television, computer, personal digitalassistant (PDA), mobile or wireless telephone and the like.

The content provider 208 comprises any source or sources of televisionor other video signals. In at least one embodiment, the content provider208 provides a television broadcast signal to the set-top box 202 overthe transmission network 206. The content provider 208 may be atelevision station that generates and provides the content or may be atelevision service that provides retransmission of television signals(e.g., a satellite television provider). It is to be appreciated thatthe content provider 208 may also provide some retransmission serviceswhile generating and providing some original or derivative content.

The transmission network 206 may comprise any type of communicationnetwork utilized between the set-top box 202 and the content provider208. Exemplary communication networks include television distributionnetworks (e.g., over-the-air, satellite and cable television networks),wireless communication networks, public switched telephone networks(PSTN), and local area networks (LAN) or wide area networks (WAN)providing data communication services. The transmission network 206 mayutilize any desired combination of wired (e.g., cable and fiber) and/orwireless (e.g., cellular, satellite, microwave, and radio frequency)communication mediums and any desired network topology (or topologieswhen multiple mediums are utilized). The local set-top box 202 and/orthe remote set-top box 210 may communicate with the transmission network206 through a wired or wireless connection. The transmission network 206may distribute television broadcast and other data signals in digital oranalog form. Exemplary video formats include moving pictures expertgroup (MPEG), flash, Windows Media, and the like. Content distributionsystem 200 may include other elements or components not illustrated forthe sake of brevity.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of functional components of the localset-top box 202A of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 will be discussed in reference to thecontent distribution system 200 illustrated in FIG. 2. The local set-topbox 202A comprises a receiver 302, a recording module 304, a storagemedium 306, a broadband module 308, a presentation module 310, an inputmodule 312, an audio/video (A/V) input 314 and a camera 316. Each ofthese components is discussed in greater detail below.

The receiver 302 receives a broadcast video stream 318 from thetransmission network 206 (see FIG. 2). The receiver 302 may comprise awired or wireless receiver. In at least one embodiment, the receiver 302receives the broadcast video content from a satellite televisiondistribution system. If necessary, the receiver 302 may performdemodulation and/or filtering of the broadcast video stream 318 signalto generate a format utilized by the presentation module 310. Thereceiver 302 may further receive other data (e.g., chat data) from thetransmission network 206. In at least one embodiment, the receiver 302may also include transmitter functionality to transmit data across thetransmission network to the content provider 208 (see FIG. 2) or theremote set-top box 210. For example, the local set-top box 202 maytransmit chat data to the remote set-top box 210 through the satellitetelevision distribution network.

The broadband module 308 is connected to a broadband data network andprovides bi-directional data transmission between the local set-top box202 and the remote set-top box 210. Thus, the broadband module 308receives input chat data 322 from the remote set-top box 210 andtransmits output chat data 324 to the remote set-top 210. In at leastone embodiment, the broadband module 308 is an Ethernet connectioncommunicatively coupled to the internet or other type of datacommunication network. It is to be appreciated that other types of wiredand wireless broadband connections may be utilized.

The presentation module 310 is configured to receive the broadcast videostream and the input chat data 322 and output an output video stream 320for presentation on the display device 204 (see FIG. 2). In at least oneembodiment, the output video stream 320 comprises a PIP or split screenvideo signal generated based on the broadcast video stream 318 and theinput chat data 322. The presentation module 310 may also retrieverecorded content stored on the storage medium 306 to output the outputvideo stream 320. For example, the presentation module 310 may generatean output video stream 320 based on recorded television shows and/orrecorded chat data stored on the storage medium. The presentation module310 may also generate and output other video data, such as menus anduser interfaces, for presentation on the display device 204 (see FIG.2). In at least one embodiment, the A/V input 314 is a Bluetoothreceiver/transmitter configured to wirelessly communicate with Bluetoothenabled devices, such as microphones, cameras and mobile telephones.Thus, the A/V input 314 may capture audio data, video data, text dataand/or image data from a Bluetooth enabled device.

The input module 312 is configured to receive user input data from thelocal user 106. In at least one embodiment, the input module 312communicates with external input devices, such as remote controls,keyboards, mice, mobile telephones and the like. In at least oneembodiment, the input module 312 is an infrared (IR) or radio frequency(RF) transmitter/receiver configured to wirelessly communicate with atelevision remote control (not shown). The remote control may beconfigured to remotely control output of the output video stream 320 bythe local set-top box 202A. In at least one embodiment, a remote controlmay be configured to remotely control the capture of chat data by thecamera 316. In at least one embodiment, the input module 312 is akeypad, touch screen or other input device mounted on a casing of thelocal set-top box 202A.

The A/V input 314 is communicatively coupled to a camera 316 thatcaptures video data of the local user 106 (see FIG. 2). In at least oneembodiment, the camera 316 includes a microphone for capturing audiodata associated with the video data of the local user 106. In someembodiments, the A/V input 314 may be communicatively coupled to amicrophone (not shown) rather than the camera 316, and the microphonemay capture audio data of the local user 106. The camera 316 may beinternal or external to the local set-top box 202A. For example, thecamera 316 may be mounted to an external casing of the local set-top box202A. The camera 316 may also communicatively couple to the A/V input314 through a wired or wireless connection, such as a universal serialbus (USB) cable or a Bluetooth connection. Responsive to the A/V input314 capturing chat data from the local user 106, the broadband module308 transmits the output chat data 324 over the transmission network 206to the remote set-top box 210.

The recording module 304 is configured to record video streams and otherA/V data to the storage medium for subsequent presentation. In at leastone embodiment, the recording module 304 receives the broadcast videostream 318 and stores the broadcast video stream 318 to the storagemedium. In some embodiments, the recording module 304 receives the inputchat data 322 and stores the input chat data 322 to the storage mediumfor subsequent presentation. In at least one embodiment, the remote user106 may experience the input chat data 322 at a later time or mayperform trick mode functions (e.g., rewind) during viewing of thebroadcast video stream 318. The storage medium 306 may be any type oftemporary or persistent storage device capable of storing the broadcastvideo stream 318 and the input chat data 322. The storage medium 306 maybe internal and/or external to the local set-top box 202A. For example,the storage medium 306 may be an internal hard drive or flash memory.The broadcast video stream 318 and the input chat data 322 may be storedtogether and/or separately on the storage medium 306.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the variousfunctional elements 302 through 316 shown as operable within the localset-top box 202A may be combined into fewer discrete elements or may bebroken up into a larger number of discrete functional elements as amatter of design choice. For example, the broadband module 308, therecording module 304, the input module 312, the A/V input 314 and/or thepresentation module 310 may be combined into one or more processors orprocessing modules. Thus, the particular functional decompositionsuggested by FIG. 3 is intended merely as exemplary of one possiblefunctional decomposition of elements within the local set-top box 202.

In at least one embodiment, a set-top box or other presentation devicemay receive both chat data and video content in a composite signal froma single signal source. FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of acommunication system 400. More particularly, FIG. 4 illustrates acommunication system 400 in which at least one presentation devicereceives video content and chat data from a single source. Thecommunication system 400 includes a first presentation device 402, asecond presentation device 404, a base station 406, a content source408, a first video capture device 410, a second video capture device 412and a transmission network 414. Each of the components of FIG. 4 will bediscussed in greater detail below.

The first presentation device 402 may be any type of device capable ofreceiving and displaying video content to a user 416. For example, thefirst presentation device 402 may be a television, mobile communicationdevice, mobile computer, personal computer and the like. The firstpresentation device 402 is communicatively coupled to the transmissionnetwork 414 and receives chat data and video content from thetransmission network 414. The chat data and the video content arereceived in a composite signal outputted by the base station 406. Forexample, the base station 406 may output the video chat data in a PIPscreen of the video content.

The first presentation device 402 may be communicatively coupled to thetransmission network over any type of wired or wireless communicationlink. In at least one embodiment, the transmission network 414 comprisesa data network, e.g., the internet, and the first presentation device402 is communicatively coupled to the transmission network through awired or wireless broadband communication link. In some embodiments, thefirst presentation device 402 may be communicatively coupled to thetransmission network 414 through an intermediate device, such as aset-top box. For example, the first presentation device 402 may comprisea television communicatively coupled to the transmission network 414,e.g., a broadband network, through a cable television or satellitetelevision set-top box.

The first presentation device 402 is further communicatively coupled toa first video capture device 410. The first video capture device 410captures video chat data of the user 416 located locally with respect tothe first presentation device 402. In other words, the user 416 issitting near the first presentation device 402. The first presentationdevice 402 (or an intermediate set-top box and the like) communicativelycoupled to the first presentation device 402 transmits the capturedvideo chat data of the user 416 to the base station 406 through thetransmission network 414 for presentation on the second presentationdevice 404. The first video capture device 410 may be internal orexternal to the first presentation device 402. For example, the firstpresentation device 402 may comprise a laptop computer with anintegrated webcam. In at least one embodiment, the first video capturedevice 410 may be integrated within a television set-top box or the likecommunicatively coupled to the first presentation device 402.

The second presentation device 404 may be any type of device capable ofreceiving and displaying video content to the user 418. The secondpresentation device 404 may be communicatively coupled to thetransmission network 414 directly or through an intermediate device,such as the base station 406.

The second presentation device 404 may be similar to the firstpresentation device 402 and may be located remotely with respect to thefirst presentation device 402. For example, the first and secondpresentation devices 402 and 404 may both comprise televisions or laptopcomputers. Alternatively, the first and second presentation devices 402and 404 may be disparate devices. For example, the first presentationdevice 402 may comprise a laptop computer communicatively coupled to thetransmission network, and the second presentation device 404 maycomprise a television communicatively coupled to the transmissionnetwork 414 through the base station 406 (e.g., a television set-top boxwith an integrated broadband connection). The content source 408 iscommunicatively coupled to the second presentation device 404 andprovides video content to the second presentation device 404.

The second video capture device 412 is configured to capture video chatdata of the second user 418. The second user 418 is located locally withrespect to the second presentation device. In other words, the seconduser 418 is sitting near the second presentation device 404. The videocapture device 412 and/or the second presentation device 404 transmitthe captured video chat data of the second user 418 to the base station406 for further transmission to the first presentation device 402.

The base station 406 may comprise any type of device capable ofcombining two video signals into a composite signal and transmitting thecomposite signal to the first presentation device 402 over thetransmission network 414. The base station 406 is communicativelycoupled to the content source 408 and receives video content therefrom.The content source 408 may comprise any type of device or system thatprovides video content to the base station 406. For example, the contentsource 408 may comprise an over-the-air broadcast, a satellite or cabletelevision distribution system, DVR, DVD or other optical disk player,the internet or other communication network and the like. In at leastone embodiment, the base station 406 is integrated within the contentsource 408. For example, the base station 406 may be integrated within atelevision receiver set-top box.

In at least one embodiment, the base station 406 may be integratedwithin the second presentation device 404. For example, the secondpresentation device 404 may comprise a laptop that also receives andtransmits video content and chat data to the first presentation device402. It is to be appreciated that the second presentation device 404,the base station 406 and the content source 408 may all be integratedwithin a single apparatus, such as a computer, television/DVR and thelike.

The base station 406 receives the video content from the content source408 and the video chat data of the user 418 from the second videocapture device 412 and generates a composite signal therefrom. Thecomposite signal is then transmitted by the base station 406 to thefirst presentation device 402 for presentation to the user 416. Thus,the first presentation device 402 receives both video content and chatdata from the same source. The base station 406 further receives thechat data of the user 416 from the first presentation device 402 andresponsively outputs the chat data to the second presentation device 404for presentation to the user 418. Thus, the base station 406 facilitatesthe transmission of chat data between the first presentation device 402and the second presentation device 404 while further providing the firstpresentation device 402 with video content from the remotely locatedcontent source 408.

In at least one embodiment, the first presentation device 402 maytransmit commands to the base station 406 to control the output of videocontent included in the composite signal. For example, the firstpresentation device 402 may receive input from the user 416 thatrequests swapping of the PIP screens outputted by the base station 406.A command may further request manipulation of the output by the contentsource 408. For example, the content source 408 may comprise atelevision receiver, and the input from the user 416 may request tochange the channel outputted by the television receiver. In otherembodiments, the content source 408 may comprise a DVR, and the inputfrom the user 416 may request to perform trick play mode functions(e.g., fast-forwarding, reversing, pausing and the like) or change thevideo outputted by the content source 408. The first presentation device402 receives the input from the user 416 and transmits the command tothe base station 406. The base station 406 receives the command andresponsively transmits the command to the content source 408. Thecontent source 408 then operates to process the command and manipulatethe output of the video content accordingly. The command may betransmitted between the base station 406 and the content source 408using any type of communication link or protocol, such as radiofrequency (RF), infrared (IR) or other types of wired or wirelesscommunication links. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the user416 can thus manipulate the output of video content from the contentsource 408 located remotely with respect to the first presentationdevice 402.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the second presentation device 404 iscommunicatively coupled to the content source 408. The presentationdevice 404 may also be coupled to the content source 408 through theintermediate base station 406. FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment ofa communication system 500. More particularly, FIG. 5 illustrates acommunication system 500 in which a base station provides video contentand chat data to multiple connected presentation devices. FIG. 5includes components common to FIG. 4, and description of thesecomponents is omitted herein for sake of brevity.

In at least one embodiment, the base station 406 is configured tofurther output a second composite signal to the second presentationdevice 404 for presentation to the user 418. The base station 406receives video content from the content source 408 and chat data of thefirst user 416 from the first presentation device 402 and responsivelygenerates a second composite signal for output to the secondpresentation device 404. The second composite signal may be similar tothe first composite signal outputted by the base station 406 to thefirst presentation device 402. For example, the chat data of the firstuser 416 may be combined with the video content from the content source408 and outputted to the second presentation device 404.

In at least one embodiment, the base station 406 is capable ofoutputting two different versions of the video content received from thecontent source 408. Thus, while both users 416 and 418 are effectivelywatching the same content, each user 416 and 418 may independentlymanipulate the video content displayed by the presentation devices 402and 404. For example, each user 410 and 418 may independently performtrick play mode functions on the video content. In other embodiments,the base station 406 outputs a single version of the video content toboth presentation devices 402 and 404. Thus, when one user manipulatesthe video content through a command transmitted to the base station 406,the content displayed to the user will be affected by the aforementionedcommand.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of functional components of the basestation 406A of FIGS. 4-5. FIG. 6 will be discussed in reference to thecommunication systems 500 and 600 illustrated in FIGS. 4-5. The basestation 406A comprises a first input module 602, a second input module604, a processor 606, a network interface module 608 and an outputmodule 610. Each of these components is discussed in greater detailbelow.

The first input module 602 of the base station 406A receives first videochat data 620 of a user 418 located locally with respect to apresentation device 404. The first input module 602 receives the firstvideo chat data 620 from the first video capture device 412. The firstinput module 602 may be communicatively coupled to the presentationdevice 404 through any type of wired or wireless communication link. Inat least one embodiment, the first input module 602 may becommunicatively coupled to the video capture device 410 through anintermediate device, such as the presentation device 404.

The second input module 604 of the base station 406A receives videocontent 622 provided by a content source 408. The second input module604 may be communicatively coupled to the content source 408 through anytype of wired or wireless communication link, such as coaxial cable,component cables, WiFi and the like. In at least one embodiment, thecontent source 408 is integrated with the base station 406.

The processor 606 of the base station 406A operates to combine the firstvideo chat data 620 and the video content 622 into a first compositesignal 624. The processor 606 may be configured to perform various videoprocessing techniques, such as video compression, transcoding and thelike. For example, at least one of the first video chat data 620 and thevideo content 622 may be captured in analog form, and the processor 606may be operable to digitize the received analog video to generate thefirst composite signal 624 in a digital format. In at least oneembodiment, the processor 606 may manipulate the output of the videocontent within the first composite signal 624 based on commands receivedfrom the presentation device 402.

A network interface module 608 of the base station 406A communicativelycouples to another presentation device 402 located remotely with respectto the base station 406A. The network interface module 608 and thepresentation device 402 may communicate over any type of networktopology and communication link. The network interface module 608transmits the first composite signal 624 to the presentation device 402.

The presentation device 402 concurrently transmits to the networkinterface module 608 second video chat data 606 of a second user 416located locally with respect to the presentation device 402. An outputmodule 610 of the base station 406A outputs the second video chat data610 for presentation on the presentation device 402. In at least oneembodiment, the processor 606 is operable to combine the video content622 and the second video chat data 626 into a second composite signal628. The generation of the second composite signal 628 may be performedsimilarly to the generation of the first composite signal 624. Thus, thebase station 406A facilitates communication between two users 416 and418 while also facilitating presentation of similar content to bothusers 416 and 418.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the variousfunctional elements 602 through 610 shown as operable within the basestation 406A may be combined into fewer discrete elements or may bebroken up into a larger number of discrete functional elements as amatter of design choice. For example, the first input module 602, thesecond input module 604, the network interface module 608 and the outputmodule 610 may be combined into one or more communication modules. Thus,the particular functional decomposition suggested by FIG. 6 is intendedmerely as exemplary of one possible functional decomposition of elementswithin the base station 406A.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus 700 for presentingvideo content and chat data to a user. The apparatus 700 may comprise apresentation device or an intermediate device, e.g., a set-top box,communicatively coupled to a presentation device. The apparatus includesan input module 702, a network interface module 704 and an output module706. Each of these components will be discussed in greater detail below.

The input module 702 of the apparatus 700 is communicatively coupled toa video capture device, e.g., a video camera, and receives first videochat data 710 of a first user located locally with respect to apresentation device communicatively coupled to the apparatus 700. Thevideo capture device may be communicatively coupled to the input module702 through any type of wired or wireless communication link. In atleast one embodiment, the video capture device is integrated with theapparatus 700. For example, the apparatus 700 may comprise a laptopcomputer with an integrated webcam. The input module 702 may be furtherconfigured to receive input from a user. For example, the input module702 may receive commands from a user requesting to manipulate the outputof content outputted for presentation by the apparatus 700. Thesereceived commands may be further transmitted to a base station via thenetwork interface module 704.

The network interface module 704 transmits the video chat data 710 to abase station located remotely with respect to the apparatus 700 (and thepresentation device communicatively coupled to the apparatus 700). Thenetwork interface module 704 may communicatively couple to the basestation using any type of wired or wireless communication link and usingany type of network topology. For example, the network interface module704 may comprise an Ethernet port that communicatively couples to thebase station over the internet.

The network interface module 704 further receives a composite signalfrom the base station. The composite signal includes video contentprovided by a content source located remotely with respect to theapparatus 700 and second video chat data captured of a second userlocated remotely with respect to the apparatus 700 (and its associatedpresentation device). In at least one embodiment, the content source islocated locally with respect to the base station.

The output module 706 of the apparatus 700 outputs the composite signalin an output video stream 714 for display on the presentation devicecommunicatively coupled to the apparatus 700. The output module 706 maybe communicatively coupled to a presentation device using any type ofwired or wireless communication link. The output module 706 may beconfigured to perform various processing and formatting operations onthe composite signal 712 prior to generating the output video stream714. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus 700 includes anintegrated presentation device, e.g., a display and/or speakers forpresenting the output video stream 714.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a process for providing videocommunication between multiple users. However, it is to be appreciatedthat the operation of the process of FIG. 8 may be applied to providecommunication between viewers watching any type of video stream content,such as television content, DVD videos, recorded content, videoon-demand (VOD) content and the like. The operations of the process ofFIG. 8 are not all-inclusive, and may comprise other operations notillustrated for the sake of brevity.

The process includes capturing first video chat data of a first userlocated locally with respect to a presentation device (operation 802).The first video chat data may be captured by any type of analog and/ordigital video camera and the like. The first video chat data may bedigitized and/or compressed after capture for optimal transfer across acommunication network.

The process further includes transmitting the first chat data to a basestation located remotely with respect to the presentation device(operation 804). The first chat data may be transmitted to the basestation over any type of communication network using any type ofcommunication protocol. In at least one embodiment, the first chat datais transmitted to the base station using an internet protocol (IP).

The process further includes receiving a composite signal from the basestation (operation 806). The composite signal includes video contentprovided by a content source communicatively coupled to the base stationand further includes second video chat data captured of a second userlocated remotely with respect to the presentation device.

The process further includes outputting the composite signal for displayon the presentation device (operation 808). In at least one embodiment,the composite signal may be outputted from a set-top box or the like toa separate presentation device. In another embodiment, the presentationdevice receives the composite signal directly from the base station anddisplays the composite signal on a display screen of the presentationdevice.

Although specific embodiments were described herein, the scope of theinvention is not limited to those specific embodiments. The scope of theinvention is defined by the following claims and any equivalentstherein.

1. A method for providing video communication between users, the methodcomprising: capturing first video chat data of a first user locatedlocally with respect to a presentation device; transmitting the firstchat data to a base station located remotely with respect to thepresentation device; receiving a composite signal from the base station,the composite signal including video content provided by a contentsource communicatively coupled to the base station and further includingsecond video chat data captured of a second user located remotely withrespect to the presentation device; and outputting the composite signalfor display on the presentation device.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising: transmitting a command from the presentation deviceto the base station, wherein the command manipulates presentation of thevideo content included in the composite signal.
 3. The method of claim2, further comprising: transmitting the command from the base station tothe content source, wherein the command manipulates the video contentoutputted by the content source.
 4. The method of claim 3, furthercomprising: outputting the manipulated video content from the contentsource to a second presentation device located locally with respect tothe second user.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting thecommand further comprises: transmitting the command from thepresentation device to the content source through the base station, thecommand requesting to change the content outputted by the contentsource.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the content source comprises adigital video recorder, and the command requests to change a videooutputted by the digital video recorder.
 7. The method of claim 5,wherein the content source comprises a television tuner device, and thecommand requests to change a channel outputted by the television tunerdevice.
 8. An apparatus comprising: an input module that receives from avideo capture device first video chat data of a first user locatedlocally with respect to a presentation device; a network interfacemodule communicatively coupled to the input module that transmits thefirst chat data to a base station located remotely with respect to thepresentation device, that receives a composite signal from the basestation, the composite signal including video content provided by acontent source located remotely with respect to the apparatus andfurther including second video chat data captured of a second userlocated remotely with respect to the presentation device; and an outputmodule communicatively coupled to the network interface module thatoutputs the composite signal for display on the presentation device. 9.The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: the input module receives a commandfrom the first user; and the network interface module transmits thecommand to the base station, wherein the command manipulates the videocontent included in the composite signal.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9,wherein the command manipulates the video content outputted by thecontent source.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the commandrequests a change to the content outputted by the content source. 12.The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the content source comprises adigital video recorder, and the command requests to change a videooutputted by the digital video recorder.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11,wherein the content source comprises a television tuner device, and thecommand requests to change a channel outputted by the television tunerdevice.
 14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus comprises amobile communication device.
 15. A base station comprising: a firstinput module that receives from a first video capture device first videochat data of a first user located locally with respect to a firstpresentation device; a second input module that receives video contentprovided by a content source; a processor communicatively coupled to thefirst input module and the second input module, the processor operableto combine the first video chat data and the video content into acomposite signal; a network interface module communicatively coupled tothe processor that transmits the composite signal to a secondpresentation device located remotely with respect to the base stationand that receives second video chat data of a second user captured by asecond video capture device located locally with respect to the secondpresentation device; and an output module communicatively coupled to thenetwork interface module that outputs the second video chat data forpresentation on the second presentation device.
 16. The base station ofclaim 15, wherein the processor is further operable to combine thesecond video chat data and the video content into a second compositesignal, and wherein the output module outputs the second compositesignal for presentation on the second presentation device.
 17. The basestation of claim 15, wherein: the network interface module receives acommand from the second presentation device, the second commandrequesting manipulation of the video content; and the processortransmits the command to the content source, the content sourcemanipulating output of the video content based on the command.
 18. Thebase station of claim 15, wherein the base station is integrated withina digital video recorder.
 19. The base station of claim 15, wherein thebase station is integrated within a television tuner device.
 20. Thebase station of claim 15, wherein the base station is integrated withinthe first presentation device.